Gollop, creator of the original X-COM, is currently trying to Kickstart his new project, Chaos Reborn, and he took to Reddit for an AMA. That’s where he mentioned the randomly generated maps, answered oodles of questions on all things X-COM (and XCOM), and much more.

“I really enjoyed it,” Gollop said when asked what he thought about XCOM: Enemy Unknown. “I think Jake Solomon and the team at Firaxis did a really good job. It was tight and focused with never a dull moment. I like the character progression system a lot. On the downside I was disappointed that there weren’t randomly generated maps and the Geoscape was largely irrelevant.”

What do you think of the new XCOM’s difficulty and the overall trend in the industry to make less challenging games?

“That’s a toughie. There are some things about the new XCOM which are clearly better – a better tutorial, a better interface. The old complex X-COM had a slightly different approach – the aliens had their agenda which progressed no matter what the player did. Things were more systemic and less scripted. I still prefer this approach, but its just not seen in any AAA game these days, let alone the new XCOM.”

Ever think of returning to isometric, turn-based strategy?

“Actually yes, although this is a little known story. After the first X-COM I was so worn out by the development that I wanted to do something in a new direction. I proposed an X-COM style game based on a kind of Lovecraftian Chthulu mythos set in the 1930s with cults, portals into a parallel world and Nazis. Microprose said that horror games don’t sell. However, some elements of these ideas did make it into X-COM Apocalypse.”

His favorite games of all time? Master of Magic, Fire Emblem, Civilization 2, Lords of Midnight, and Advance Wars.

Why is he updating his 1985 ZX Spectrum tactical strategy game Chaos: The Battle of Wizards with Chaos Reborn? And is there a chance he’ll return to another one of his classics, Laser Squad?

“I wanted to return to indie gaming, and I wanted a project that inspired me. Chaos was one of my favourite projects, and I think it has endured surprisingly well. Many people want me to revisit Laser Squad in some way, so it is something I will consider – but no firm plans yet.”

How about a mobile version of Laser Squad Nemesis?

“I would really like to do this, yes. I have great fondness for Laser Squad Nemesis, although a large part of it was the community of players who contributed so much – maps, tournaments, etc. I agree that it could work well on tablets too. You might be right about it being ahead of its time.”

Dream game project, money is no object?

“I would like to create a future universe which is entirely procedurally generated – including characters, story line, technology and worlds. It would be a sort of RPG with strategy, politics, economics, culture, and everything. Undoubtedly there would be some threat to yourself or your world, which you had to overcome, but it would be different each time you played it. Hmm, a bit on the ambitious side.”

Thoughts on Early Access?

“Early access can really help developers get their project finished, which might not otherwise get any funding. It’s a two way street though. I think developers need to be very careful to offer something of real value if they are actually charging money for it. They must ‘find the fun’ quickly and it must be present from the earliest release. In my view rough graphics and functional interfaces are acceptable, but buggy, incoherent gameplay isn’t.”

And there’s much more. Gollop really took the time to try to answer everyone’s questions. Kudos.

Also, can we please get that XCOM-style, Lovecraftian Chthulu mythos, set in the 1930s with cults, portals into a parallel world and Nazis game made immediately?

Julian Gollop, creator of the original X-COM, wants our help to make his next game.

It’s called Chaos Reborn, it’s an update of his 1985 ZX Spectrum tactical strategy game Chaos: The Battle of Wizards, and Gollop says he’ll deliver it to backers early next year if he hits his $180,000 funding goal.

“Currently, we have an online multi-player prototype working,” Gollop states in the Chaos Reborn Kickstarter. “A third of the spells are implemented, but most of the graphics are place-holder and none of the creatures have animations yet. However, the game is fully functional and great fun to play. With your help we can implement all the features in our game design, and deliver the final game to you by spring 2015.”

Here’s a summary of the feature set Chaos Reborn will come packing:

64 unique spells, including 24 creatures – from dragons to goblins – fully animated in the 3D Unity Engine.Classic spells from the original Chaos – including the Gooey Blob and Magic Wood.Summon creatures as illusions for 100% success, and use Disbelieve spell on suspected enemy illusions.Manipulate the balance of the universe between Law and Chaos to your advantage.Procedurally generated 3D battle arenas with various types of terrain, and different levels of elevation.Configure your spells and equipment for your wizard character before entering battle.Collect gold on your quests to spend on equipment, rare artefacts and spell books.Hundreds of different types of equipment to collect in your adventures – including staffs, body gear, headgear, magical artefacts and spell books.Procedurally generated Realms of Chaos for your adventures, guaranteeing a unique experience on every quest.Multiplayer online matches – asynchronous or live – with online rankings, tournaments and prizes.Extensive co-op options, for multiplayer matches and also while adventuring in the Realms of Chaos – invite a friend to help you with a difficult battle and share the rewards.Guild system with guild rankings and guild tournaments.Trade items and equipments with your friends or guild members.Level up your wizard and gain status, aiming to ascend the ranks becoming a Wizard Lord, a Wizard King, a Demi-god, and maybe even a God of Chaos, bestowing favours and blessings on your followers.Classic Chaos mode – fully random battle set-up with random selection of spells.

Get the lowdown from Gollop in the Kickstarter pitch video below, and then cough up some money for Chaos Reborn.

]]>http://www.gamefront.com/original-x-com-creator-julian-gollop-takes-chaos-reborn-to-kickstarter/feed/0Chaos Reborn is Julian Gollop’s New (Old) Gamehttp://www.gamefront.com/chaos-reborn-is-julian-gollops-new-old-game/
http://www.gamefront.com/chaos-reborn-is-julian-gollops-new-old-game/#commentsWed, 22 Jan 2014 14:48:42 +0000Mike Sharkeyhttp://www.gamefront.com/?p=261093Julian Gollop has a new game in the works. That name alone is enough to pique many a gamer’s interest....

That name alone is enough to pique many a gamer’s interest. If it kinda-sorta rings a bell, but you can’t place it, he’s the guy who created the original X-COM. You know, one of the greatest tactical strategy games ever devised.

Gollop is taking the crowdfunding path for his next project, Chaos Reborn, an update of his 1985 ZX Spectrum game Chaos: The Battle of Wizards. It’s a turn-based arena battle multiplayer with deep RPG elements and one goal: be the last wizard standing.

“In my 30 years of game development, after many critically acclaimed projects, I think the original Chaos stands out as a game with unrealized potential,” Gollop states on Chaos Reborn’s Prefundia page. “I have spent the last year working on Chaos Reborn, writing the game design, creating a playable prototype and building my team.”

Here’s a summary of the feature set Chaos Reborn will come packing:

64 unique spells, including 24 creatures – from dragons to goblins – fully animated in the 3D Unity Engine.Classic spells from the original Chaos – including the Gooey Blob and Magic Wood.Summon creatures as illusions for 100% success, and use Disbelieve spell on suspected enemy illusions.Manipulate the balance of the universe between Law and Chaos to your advantage.Procedurally generated 3D battle arenas with various types of terrain, and different levels of elevation.Configure your spells and equipment for your wizard character before entering battle.Collect gold on your quests to spend on equipment, rare artefacts and spell books.Hundreds of different types of equipment to collect in your adventures – including staffs, body gear, headgear, magical artefacts and spell books.Procedurally generated Realms of Chaos for your adventures, guaranteeing a unique experience on every quest.Multiplayer online matches – asynchronous or live – with online rankings, tournaments and prizes.Extensive co-op options, for multiplayer matches and also while adventuring in the Realms of Chaos – invite a friend to help you with a difficult battle and share the rewards.Guild system with guild rankings and guild tournaments.Trade items and equipments with your friends or guild members.Level up your wizard and gain status, aiming to ascend the ranks becoming a Wizard Lord, a Wizard King, a Demi-god, and maybe even a God of Chaos, bestowing favours and blessings on your followers.Classic Chaos mode – fully random battle set-up with random selection of spells.

Gollop says a playable multiplayer prototype is up and running, and he hopes to have Chaos Reborn complete for PC “within a year.” No word yet on the dollar sum he wants to raise or when the official Kickstarter campaign will begin, but we’ll absolutely keep you posted.

]]>http://www.gamefront.com/chaos-reborn-is-julian-gollops-new-old-game/feed/0The XCOM: Enemy Within is Us — Details and Trailerhttp://www.gamefront.com/the-xcom-enemy-within-is-us/
http://www.gamefront.com/the-xcom-enemy-within-is-us/#commentsWed, 09 Oct 2013 12:44:16 +0000Mike Sharkeyhttp://www.gamefront.com/?p=245473I wonder if EXALT is the XCOM universe version of the NRA? Firaxis dropped some new details about the upcoming...

Firaxis dropped some new details about the upcoming XCOM: Enemy Unknown expansion, Enemy Within, today, and now we know who those inner baddies are. They’re a group of humans calling themselves EXALT and they’re trying to acquire alien weapons and technology for their own purposes. Perhaps they believe it’s their constitutional right to own a plasma rifle.

Whatever the reason, EXALT is undermining XCOM’s effort to save the planet, and the problem is serious enough that the shadowy XCOM boss has put EXALT on your hit list. Just one thing: it’s not as easy to ID an EXALT soldier as it is an alien invader. Unless it’s a Thin Man. Those guys are sneaky. Point is, the bad guys could be anywhere, including that gorgeous underground base you spent so much time excavating and building. See the challenge that awaits in the trailer below:

Looks fantastic. After the Slingshot DLC brought us nothing that we actually wanted in an XCOM expansion — new units, enemies, technology, or abilities — it’s nice to know Firaxis listened and will pack it all into Enemy Within. And with an interesting storyline to boot.

New name, new player perspective, and a new focus on strategy. The Bureau: XCOM Declassified has come a looong way since 2010 when 2K Marin first showed off its first-person shooter re-imagining of the iconic isometric strategy game, and according to Senior User Interface Artist Patrick Guarino, the end result is worthy of the X-COM name. In a candid interview on the eve of The Bureau’s launch, Guarino admitted he didn’t always feel that way.

“Starting off, I was a little concerned it didn’t feel as true to X-COM as it should have,” Guarino told me. “Particularly in those early first-person days, it did feel a lot like BioShock, and that was particularly concerning because it was coming from a team that just shipped a BioShock game.”

“We’ve transitioned into something that feels, to me, a lot smarter and more challenging,” he continued. “The first iteration felt very much like exploring a small area and shooting the same types of aliens over and over again while dragging two agents with you as best you could. All the interesting things were happening between the large story missions. Now we have a much better mix. It’s something I’m really excited to have worked on.”

Judging by The Bureau’s current third-place position in the top selling titles on Steam (as of August 19), behind only Payday 2 and Saints Row IV, gamers are excited to play it, too. That’s not something many X-COM (and XCOM: Enemy Unknown) fans could say up until recently, this humble scribe included. But after learning how and why 2K Marin moved away from its original BioComShock model, a process Game Front chronicled in a one-on-one interview with The Bureau’s Creative Director Morgan Gray, and hearing how it actually plays thanks to some recent The Bureau hands-on previews by the GF team, my interest is piqued.

That renewed interest also sparked a number of fresh questions, questions I thought XCOM diehards might want answered before they decide to part with their hard-earned dollars. First and foremost: will The Bureau provide the same type of challenge XCOM is famous for? We know there is agent permadeath, but is losing agents a real risk and will it carry the same curse-at-your-monitor impact?

“Our suggested level of difficulty is actually the second hardest, Veteran,” Guarino said. “That’s a challenge. You’ll have agents dying, it will hurt, and you’ll have to swap them out. We really wanted to make players responsible for the safety of their agents, very much in the style of the original X-COM games.”

One of the biggest leaps in going up in difficulty from Normal to Veteran, Guarino noted, will be the loss of the ability to revive downed agents and put them back into play. On Veteran, agents felled by Sectoid blasts or Berserker bashes can be stabilized, but not revived. The difference, Guarino said, is that stabilized agents will live, but they cannot be used again during that particular battle. As a result, Veteran players will find themselves fighting alone if they’re not careful.

Talking about The Bureau’s difficulty levels also got me thinking about replayability, an element that helped make the original X-COM, in particular, such a classic. Unfortunately, Guarino told me, one of the features that made X-COM worth playing over and over and over again, level randomization, is out.

“We don’t have any randomization as far as the levels go,” he said. “The biggest chance for replayability is in the difficulty, but also in the way that you approach battles and the team building aspect of it. Each agent has a perk tree, so you can perk them differently with different skills. So even if you go through the game with a mixture of agents and skills, you likely haven’t gotten the whole range of abilities yet. So there is definitely replayability there. There are also different choices you make throughout, and they will have an impact on what you see at the end of the game.”

The screenshots – that’s one of them up top – come from a market research survey that reveals a few details about the game. According to their source, the 1960s setting is still a go, and it’s still going to be a prequel, but now it’s envisioned as a squad-based shooter. The survey also suggests that they’re going bargain basement for this thing. It’s described as an Xbox and PS3 title only, with no PC version. One question also suggests it’ll be a $30 download rather than a AAA release.

Of course, this could simply be a testing of the waters to determine which type of game players would more likely purchase. However, if it has indeed been given such an extensive makeover, we can probably count on that 2013 delay to convert to 2014 before much longer; unless, of course, the cheapness implied in the survey pans out. For its part, 2K said “We have not made any new announcements regarding the XCOM title currently in development at 2K Marin, and it is our policy not to comment on rumors or speculation.” Which isn’t a denial at all.

Last week, the Game Fronters got together to make some (fairly dismal and sarcastic) predictions about next week’s Electronic Entertainment Expo, most of which included high hopes being dashed by corporate culture. Today, we’re looking at the brighter, less ironic side of E3 2012 — because there will be games there. And we’re excited to see them.

In fact, though a lot of big titles have been removed from E3 this year and a lot of things we’d been hoping to see, such as Respawn Entertainment’s project finally announced, won’t be happening, there’s still plenty of cool stuff likely to show up at the LA Convention Center. There’s a lot of potential for greatness out there, and we’re hopeful that developers and publishers don’t disappoint. So here they are: our hopes for E3 2012 and the games that have us most anxious to get there.

Ben Richardson

XCOM: Enemy Unknown

After getting a taste of XCOM: Enemy Unknown at PAX East, I’m excited to see more at E3. Though I’m not an experienced old-school XCOM player like some, the mix of strategy, tactics, RPG mechanics, and horror really appeals. Firaxis has a solid track record in the genre, and from what I’ve seen so far, they’ve managed to update the game for a modern audience without watering down the key features that make the franchise such a legend. The decisions seem just as fraught and stressful as ever, and the visual presentation is spot on — neither to realistic nor too stylized. Hopefully I will return from E3 with some hands-on experience to describe.

C.J. Miozzi

Unreal Engine, PlanetSide 2

I admit it: I love to ogle gorgeous graphics. They may not make a game great, but it’s impressive to see how far technology can be pushed and how close we can come to real-time photo-realism. Epic blew me away with its Samaritan tech demo a couple years back, and while there’s no guarantee they’ll showcase something similar this year, I’m quietly optimistic.

As for an actual game, while I never had the opportunity to play the original PlanetSide, I fell in love with the idea of massively multiplayer sci-fi FPS and have high hopes for PS2. Two thousand player battles? If lag-free, then yes, please, Planetside 2.

The neverending story of XCOM’s delay has become even further neverending as a result of news dropped during today’s Take-Two investor call. No, not that XCOM. We mean the upcoming FPS reimagining. First scheduled for 2011, then delayed to March, 2012, then delayed again to sometime late in 2012, XCOM has now been delayed, again, to sometime during Take-Two’s Q4 2014, which means sometime after March 31, 2013.

You might have noticed this isn’t the first Take-Two gameremoved from the fall, 2012 calendar. BioShock Infinite has also been moved to 2013. That creates a rather large hole in their fall release schedule. This only further raises speculation that they’re doing so deliberately, in order to make room for Grand Theft Auto V. So far, Rockstar refuses to just say something, anything, despite the HUGE amount of speculation. That smacks of deliberate buzz-building, and that, more than anything suggests they’re planning some kind of announcement soon. That October release date rumor keeps looking more and more like truth.

But until they actually say something, we have to assume that GTA V is strictly TBD. So ignore it for a while longer yet, and prepare to wait until 2013 until the next time XCOM is inevitably delayed.

A gamer’s work is never done. Despite the number of terrific titles already released in 2012, things are only getting started. Whether you’re excited for Diablo III or Bioshock: Infinite, read on for a comprehensive look at the all the great games the year has in store.

April

Kinect Star Wars (360) – April 3rd

Armed with new Pod-racing and Rancor modes, this kid-centric title combines motion controls with the world’s most popular license.

]]>
XCOM: Enemy Unknown, Firaxis’ recently announced strategy title, will be coming both to consoles and the PC, but all versions will not be the same. Rather, the PC version will be given the attention it deserves and will be tailored to the mouse and keyboard experience. Here’s an excerpt from Game Informer’s new feature on the game:

And fear not, PC players – Firaxis is planning to take advantage of the platform’s unique capabilities to provide an enhanced interface. Lead designer Jake Solomon uses [Dragon Age: Origins] as an example of what he wants to happen with XCOM. He suggested a zoomed-out full-map view of the tactical map as the kind of feature that PC players can expect that might not make it into the console versions.

Eeeeeeeeeexcellent. Treat us right, Firaxis, as you know you should. Dooooooooooooooo eeet.

If you don’t get Game Informer, you can read the entire feature on the game over at NeoGAF.

Well, 2012 is upon us. For those of us not embroiled in Star Wars: The Old Republic or still catching up on the insane release schedule of 2011 (I’m in both camps), it’s time to look forward to what we’ll be playing in the New Year.

There are some huge games ahead on the horizon, and for PC players, there are a few that are definitely worth paying attention to. It might not be a year as intensely packed with big releases as 2011 was — yet — but there are sure to be quite a few games that garner a lot of your free time and gaming dollar. Here’s a rundown of every big release yet on our radar and everything you should be watching in anticipation.

JanuaryFinal Fantasy XIII-2Coming: Jan. 31On: Xbox 360, Playstation 3

Square Enix’s follow-up to last year’s record-breaking Final Fantasy XIII forwards the story of Lightning and pals three years into the future. And, you know… it’s Final Fantasy.

King Arthur II: The Role-playing WargameComing: JanuaryOn: PC

The sequel to the fantasy/role-playing RTS released in 2010 takes you way forward in the legend of King Arthur, with Britain rent asunder and Arthur struggling with his own grievous injuries. The Holy Hand Grenade will not be part of the game, though — King Arthur takes a darker tone than that.

SoulCalibur VComing: Jan. 31On: Xbox 360, Playstation 3

Namco Bandai is packing boobs into tiny clothing in the next iteration of its weapons-heavy fighting title. There’s already controversy about the advertising, to boot.

]]>
2K has revealed that their studio in Canberra, which was 2K Australia and then part of 2K Marin and is now 2K Australia again, is no longer working on XCOM and is instead helping out with BioShock Infinite.

This is potentially upsetting news when coupled with the recent delay for XCOM from its March 6 release date. The game isn’t cancelled, though. The folks at 2K Marin are still working on it.

You have to wonder what the hell is going on out there with XCOM right now. It could be that the Canberra studio’s part in XCOM was done and this isn’t a big deal, but it’s more likely that this isn’t about XCOM at all. It’s probably just that they need more manpower on BioShock and that they’re content to let XCOM marinate a little bit. I’m not worried about it at all.

]]>XCOM was intended to be released by Take-Two on March 6 of next year, which would have put it up against Mass Effect 3 and Ghost Recon: Future Soldier. I guess they figured maybe that put them in the corner, and so they announced today that they’ll delay the title into the fiscal year 2013.

What does that mean? Well, in Take-Two speak, we’re in fiscal year 2012 right now, and that year will end on March 31. So you can expect XCOM any time between April 1, 2012 and March 31, 2013. So yeah.

]]>I can see that look on your face. You’re wondering just what the hell XCOM actually is. You lucky bastard. This video anticipated your confusion, and seeks to solve it with a literally titled video telling you the answer. Enjoy your Friday!